Why Professional Cricketers Prefer Scooped Bats?

In cricket, hitting the sweet spot is the ultimate thing a batsman trains for years. The connection of the ball made by timber on this spot makes any batter feel a high reward. The bat construction plays a significant role in generating ample power to send the ball beyond the boundary ropes. The type of willow, concentration of wood, moisture content, and even grain pattern of the bat decides if it can hit the ball as needed. A batter chooses a suitable bat according to power, stroke, and timing to achieve this. While there are many varieties of bats made out of English or Kashmir Willow, scooped bats are preferred by many professionals. Let's understand the construction of scooped cricket bats, its benefits and why professional cricketers use it.

What is Scooped Cricket Bat?

A Scooped Cricket Bat is the kind of bat in which a scoop of wood is removed from the back face of the bat. The scooping reduces the weight of the timber, which enlarges the sweet spot and allows the player to have more chance of timing the ball perfectly. The scoop creates a concave structure on the back, enabling even weight distribution of the whole bat. Although it is more prevalent in modern game formats, it was first introduced in international cricket by the Chappell Brothers from Australia in the 1970s. It provides better balance for the batsman to play stroke freely. The scooped bat is made of Kashmir willow, which is known for its high durability and strength.

Why Professional Cricketers Use Scooped Bats

Professional cricketers need each element of their kit to work in their favour. A bat holds the highest value to the batsman. They should feel like it is their arm's extension, like a samurai's sword. Having a bat with higher than ideal weight restricts the flow of batsmen, sometimes leading to injuries. Or, having a bat too light doesn't generate enough power, vibrates on impact, and deteriorates quickly. With a scoop bat from manufacturers like GLS Sports, they get a sufficient balance of power and movement. Here are the benefits of scoop bats for batsmen:

●     Quick Bat Speed: The lightweight build of scooped bats allows players to hit the ball with a great swing at high speed, giving the ball enough momentum to reach the boundary ropes and even beyond.

●     Access Wider Field: The sweet spot of the scoop bat is enlarged from the bottom to the top of the willow. It allows the batsmen to play scoop shots behind the wicketkeepers and the field of the extreme side of the third man. In short, it gives the batter to be more innovative with their shot and play with freedom, accessing a wider field.

●     Lighter pickup: Players can feel lighter and more in sync with their reflexes by having a light bat. The large sweet spots allow them to play shots more freely, as they only need to focus on connecting the ball with the central axis of the bat.

●     Training Wrists: The wristy players use this bat without worrying about tier injury as these are easy to handle, allowing them to train their wrists and play elegant flicks and leg glances.

●     Playing Aggressive Shots: The modern format of the game, especially T20 and ODI, requires batters to play more aggressive shots. So, they need a bat that gives them quick swing, and even mishits can earn them boundaries. It can be maneuvered more quickly than heavy-weight bats.

Conclusion

Whether you are a budding cricketer with aspirations or a professional cricketer aiming to improve their game and train better, consider choosing a Scoop bat from a trusted maker. By getting this bat, you will get to train your wrists, add new shots to your skills, and pile massive runs on the board.